Social technology is THE productivity tool

Social media has changed the way many of us communicate, engage and collaborate, yet to many organizations “social media” is a dirty word. With many employers believing social media to be Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, IT departments all over are increasingly blocking employee access to these sites.

The simple reality is that organizations cannot stop staff from using social media, all they can do is help employees find increasingly innovative ways of accessing the platforms. If they cannot use a work PC, then they will use a smart phone.

Even these “very social” sites are creating lots of business and business opportunities.

Missing the point about engagement

By believing that social media is “the devils work”, that it reduces productivity, or that it undermines brand is at best short sighted. Social media can be used for business. Business productivity, through knowledge sharing and management as well as collaboration and of course marketing.

By training employees to harness social media TOOLS we build a solution that provides social business solutions, problem solving and most importantly knowledge management through collaboration.

IBM know this and have recently starting engaging with many bloggers and others active in the social media space to further understand the potential benefits both internally, and externally with clients and potential clients.

Below are two of the videos resulting from an event held last month.

The question is are you seeing the Threat or the Opportunity as the greater for you and your organization?

On another discussion recently one person asked about the difference between Brand and employee brand – well, if you have a poor reputation in the market place for your brand, employees, if given a choice will work for your competitors.

Remember no “noise” about an organization will seem like a “super injunction”. The new generation will look at potential employers, and if they can find no discussion openly about an organization (good or bad) they will assume the worst – a bit like a hotel or restaurant review – its its that bad people wont be bothers to comment!

To find out more about what IBM are doing join the discussion and debate:

www.facebook.com/IBMSocialBusiness
www.twitter.com/IBMSocialBizUK

www.twitter.com/rapidbi